Lazy starter motor

[Granny]

Evening all

Approximately one time in ten on pressing the starter button the engine barely turns over but does manage to burst into life. I confidently diagnosed a battery on its way out but no!
As the bike- a 2010 GSA 1200 with circa 6K miles-is under warranty I asked Alan Jeffries to have a look at it and they carried out a "drop test" on the battery which they claim was passed satisfactorily.

As the problem is intermittent and often occurs after a long run when surely the battery is fully charged I wonder if there is another problem perhaps with the starter itself.

Any ideas welcome

Thanks

 

[phillh]

First thing I would check is the battery, starter motor and earthing connections are done up tight and not corroded.

PH

 

[TeaPig]

+1

If the connections are clean and tight then you are only left with the battery ( in spite of the checks suggesting it's OK) and clearly the starter itself. There have been a few rare reports of failing starters so it's worth doing a search.

 

[Mike Murphy]

LAZY STARTER

I have a 2010 DOHC and it’s doing the very same thing. Mentioned it at the last service (Keary’s Cork IRL) and like you, they checked everything and found nothing. But it did happen one time as the mechanic was starting the bike. They also have a demo. bike doing the same thing!!!!
So no solution for you but, you are not alone!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

My 06 does the same and that's on the original battery

 

[trainman]

My 06 does the same and that's on the original battery

and mine on occasions (06 and what looks like std battery) - maybe a heat issue after a long run

starts from cold sweet as a nut every time

 

[Dick Dastardly]

Granny.

It may not come to it, but if it does need a new starter motor I have a brand new BMW valeo in a box in my garage.

"I give you good price meester"...

You'll get hung out to dry elsewhere. PM me if you need it anytime.

 

[Granny]

Thanks for all the help and advice. I will get stuck in to trying out a few this weekend when I get back home.

I am slightly reassured that its not just my machine and I will let you all know if I uncover a solution

 

[Horse1200]

My 2010 GSA had same problem. When BMW assist came out they fitted a bigger battery as the orginal was alot smaller with some sort of plastic spacer under it.
The proble did return but only after the hog Raost and some offroad riding , GSA arent designed for offroad, forgot that page in the hand book.
New starter motor and ring gear, she is all good now.

 

[Popell]

Not had this problem thankfully but just having a think about it and the occurance after a run and when hot.
This might point to a temperature related cause - perhaps a clearance issue betwix starter motor and ring gear. Not played myself but is there any play in the starter mount that would allow a slightly greater clearance to be achieved for those 'hot starts'?

 

[the shepard]

starter motor

had same thing on brothers r1150rs.dry bush on starter motor pinion.hope this helps:

 

[TeaPig]

Depending on how handy you are, the way forward would be to check the bearings on the starter motor to be sure they aren't partially siezed as 'the shepherd' suggested then to look for electrical faults - open circuit windings, stuck brushes, corroded solenoid contacts and so on. This would have been standard procedure 40 odd years ago but I expect a delaer will simply swap the motor for a new one these days. Great for you if it's a warranty job, but possibly an expensive way of correcting what may be a simple fault if you have to pay for it yourself

 

[Mike Murphy]

Lazy Starter

Just a note to say it happens to mine COLD & HOT.

Do the engines stop in the same position every time? I presume they do (now days with all the electronics etc) but it does feel when it happens that the engine is very close to a compression on one side and therefore putting immediate pressure in the starter!!! This is only a thought

 

[Granny]

Lazy Starter

Mike Murphy

thats a good point it does feel just like the motor has stopped in the worst possible place from the point of view of the starter trying to get a bit of momentum up. This is in relative terms a high compression short stroke light flywheel effect engine I reckon (at least compared to my old ES2 Norton). However surely it should be specced to accomodate this?

 

[trainman]

Just a note to say it happens to mine COLD & HOT.

Do the engines stop in the same position every time? I presume they do (now days with all the electronics etc) but it does feel when it happens that the engine is very close to a compression on one side and therefore putting immediate pressure in the starter!!! This is only a thought

if this was the case it would happen hot or cold, which for most people (bar you!) it doesnt

i think its heat related as mentioned above, either the starter to ring gear or something else within the engine itself

 

[hurricane]

you are not alone,thought i was going mad .stalled my bike on a right turn t#%t wouldnt start on the roll very lazy. Stopped on side neutral etc still lazy finaly got started all ok next time i used bike.
Have always had the impression that starter and battery aren't up to turning the high compression bmw motors adequately. Might put a bigger batter next time when and if original fails.

 

[bmwblue]

As the problem is intermittent and often occurs after a long run when surely the battery is fully charged I wonder if there is another problem perhaps with the starter itself.

I have the same problem on my 2009 GS. It starts no problem at all when the engine is cold (even in the middle of winter). If I stop for a short while (e.g. for petrol) after a long run, when I try and restart, the starter motor sometimes labours as if the battery is nearly flat.

 

[herrstedt]

Isnt it just the nature of the starter ? . Some Starter motors in cars Especially Japanese are very fast where some often in european cars are more lazy, but the fact is they all start (most of the time). Have any of You with the lazy starter ever been left stranded ? . Mine is lazy too, but it always start .

Herrstedt

 

[davegs]

Starters

All this new fangled rubbish it will never catch on, bring back good old kick starters!.

 

[Granny]

Isnt it just the nature of the starter ? . Some Starter motors in cars Especially Japanese are very fast where some often in european cars are more lazy, but the fact is they all start (most of the time). Have any of You with the lazy starter ever been left stranded ? . Mine is lazy too, but it always start .

Herrstedt

herrstedt the problem is lack of consistency. Most times it makes a fair job of spinning the engine over and then occaisonally it really does feel like its not going to manage it (but to date does-just)